A high school resume for your summer job, internship, or program
A high school resume has one job: show a manager or program director that you are dependable. Grades, clubs, sports, and volunteering all count when you present them well. This builder gives you a clean one-page layout with school activities in the right place.
Free to build and preview. $4.99 to download the PDF.
Organized junior with a 3.7 GPA, two summers of camp experience, and a record of showing up early. Strong with young children, comfortable with basic spreadsheets, and ready for a summer position in recreation or office support.
- Supervised a group of 12 children ages 6 to 8 alongside a lead counselor
- Planned and ran a daily 30-minute arts activity for the full session
- Greeted parents at drop-off and pick-up and kept the sign-out sheet accurate
- Lead a team of 8 students through weekly build sessions
- Track parts and a $900 season budget in a shared spreadsheet
- Presented our design to judges at 3 regional competitions
Working with children, Team leadership, Google Sheets, Public speaking, Time management, Bilingual: English and Igbo, First aid and CPR (Red Cross)
- Library homework helper, Saturdays: tutored 4 to 6 elementary students each week
Build your high school student resume and cover letter
Edit the sample with your own details. The preview updates as you type, and your work is saved in this browser.
What to put on a high school student resume
Put school activities where work goes. Captain of a club, treasurer of a team, or a school job all show responsibility. Give each one a title, dates, and two or three lines about what you did.
Show leadership and numbers together. "Led a team" is vague. "Led a team of 8 and managed a $900 budget" tells a manager exactly how much they can trust you with.
Check your state's rules for workers under 18. Many states require working papers or limit hours for minors. Look this up before you apply so you can say you are ready to work legally.
Choose references carefully. A teacher, coach, or club advisor who knows your work is a strong reference. Ask each person first, and write down their title and best contact.
Use a simple email address. An address with your name looks serious. If yours is a nickname from years ago, make a new one just for job applications.
Mistakes to avoid
- Listing every club you joined once instead of the two or three where you did real work
- Leaving off dates so a manager cannot tell how long you stayed
- Using a photo or a decorated template when the posting does not ask for one
Words employers look for
student leader, volunteer, responsible, time management, teamwork, honor roll, bilingual, customer service, organized, dependable. Use the ones that are true for you, in the same words the job posting uses.
Sample cover letter
This is the letter that comes with the sample. Open the builder and switch to the Cover letter tab to write yours.
Read the sample letter for Summer Recreation Assistant
Dear Hiring Coordinator,
I am a junior at Lincoln High School, and I am applying for the Summer Recreation Assistant position with the Parks Department. I spent last summer as a junior counselor aide at Riverside Parks Summer Camp, and I would love to come back in a bigger role.
At camp, I helped supervise 12 children and planned a daily arts activity. At school, I captain our robotics club and manage a $900 budget. Both taught me to stay calm, plan ahead, and keep a group focused.
I am available the full summer, including early mornings. Thank you for considering my application. I would be happy to meet and talk about how I can help.
Sincerely,
Maya Okafor
Questions
What should a high school resume include?
Your contact details, a short summary, education with your expected graduation date, any jobs or volunteering, school activities, and a few skills. Add awards and GPA if they help.
Do I list my school or my jobs first?
If you have little paid work, put education first. If you have a relevant job or internship, put it first and move education below.
Can I use this for college program or scholarship applications?
Yes. Swap the summary for a line about the program, and give more space to activities, leadership, and honors.
Do I need a cover letter?
For a summer job, a short cover letter is a plus because most students skip it. For an internship or program, it is often expected.